Former Ohio State football recruit now starring for Miami makes key decision before the Hurricanes and Buckeyes play
The Miami star was once committed to play for the Buckeyes. Now, he’ll take on Ohio State in the College Football Playoff.
The Ohio State Buckeyes have the Miami Hurricanes in front of them now in the quarterfinal of the College Football Playoff. Miami grabbed a 10-3 win over Texas A&M to start the CFP and they’ll now get their crack at the Buckeyes.
When the Buckeyes do match up with Miami, there will be plenty of players with a background with the other team due to the fact that they recruit a lot of the same players. One former Ohio State commitment who is now the top running back for Miami, just made it clear he’s sticking around for another season.
Former Ohio State commitment Mark Fletcher Jr. is going back to Miami for 2026
There’s no drama over the next week to be had on whether or not Miami will get its starting running back for the 2026 season. News has broken via ESPN that the Miami starting running back will return for his senior season, which is big for the Hurricanes. Fletcher was committed to Ohio State in the class of 2023 from April 2022 to November 2023. Fletcher is a Florida native and ended up flipping to the Hurricanes in December.
So far this season, Fletcher has 857 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground for Miami. Fletcher had 172 rushing yards on just 17 attempts against Texas A&M in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Ohio State is no doubt going to have to slow down the Miami star running back who is off to a hot start this postseason. The Buckeyes are averaging 84.5 rushing yards allowed per game, which is fifth in the country.
When it comes to Miami’s playmakers for Ohio State to worry about, Fletcher and Miami freshman WR Malachi Toney are the ones to watch. Toney has 992 receiving yards for the Carson Beck-led Miami offense so far for the 2025 season. Ohio State is going to have its hands full on Dec. 31, including with players they are familiar with.
Ohio State Buckeyes News
Jeremiah Smith reacts to the Ohio State Buckeyes learning that they will play the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff
The superstar wide receiver is ready to dominate for the Buckeyes.
